I know that these are not to everyone's taste but I think they do something on such a completely different level. The artist says that she is influenced by indigenous Indian/Mexican art of the Huichol tribes. The Huichol integrate their art (as have many cultures, early and late in human history) into their religious, shamanistic rituals - which often involve a drug (peyote) induced experience of the cosmos. Here are examples of masks done by Huichol artists. I found them on:

These last three use more universally commonplace folk color combinations. The middle pieces and Paula's use colors that are more sophisticated and which add another dimension entirely. I am definitely experiencing the cosmos through this artwork. Without the drugs! I have ALOT more to learn about the Southwest. This is going to be a wonderful departure point. Any further words would be redundant. These pieces say so much about the people who make them and the internal/external spaces they tap into. I would only add that they remind me also of the art of the indigenous Australians. I bow.

4 comments:

Wonderful!! I love the masks! I'm just reading (and re-reading) Joanne Harris' The Girl with No Shadow, and this post reminds me a lot of that. Yes, I'm embracing the colors this fall! We had a particularly colorful fall in denver this year, and it seems appropriate. When I started the blog last winter I was on and all-white theme, but I am definitely feeling colorful this year!

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